She Uses Mortar To Transform Rocks In Her Backyard Into A Rustic DIY Garden Bed

Raised garden beds are a popular option for your backyard and can be an ideal environment for healthy plants, as well as being easier for you to work on. There are lots of possible designs for raised garden beds that can make the most of the materials you have available, and over on TikTok, Britt of The Gilded Glasshouse builds them with nothing more than mortar and rocks from her backyard. 

Britt has plenty of rock strewn across her land. If you don't, there are numerous different types of rocks that can be used in landscaping, allowing you to choose something that fits in with the style of your home. The tools and equipment required are minimal: a wheelbarrow, a hoe or shovel for mixing the mortar, thick rubber gloves for applying it, and a stiff brush for cleaning up any excess once it has dried.

Early on in the video, Britt explains that if you live in an area with frequent frosts, you should create a rock or pebble base to stop freezing water from cracking the bed walls. Whatever your local conditions, experts recommend creating a solid, level foundation by digging down 6 to 8 inches, compacting the dirt, then adding several inches of gravel. This provides drainage and ensures long-term stability. Without it, rainwater could erode the soil, and the whole structure might move and break up eventually.

The build is very straightforward. Britt chooses the largest, flattest rocks for the first level, then adds smaller ones on top, taking time to find those that fit well. She leaves a few gaps at the bottom to allow for drainage. You could also embed short lengths of plastic pipe for the same purpose. The rocks are fixed with Type S mortar, which is particularly good for building walls and offers lots of strength. Pre-mixed mortar that just needs water added is easiest to use, and Britt mixes it so the consistency is "like peanut butter."

Wetting the surface of the rocks with a sponge, rag, or brush before applying the mortar makes for a better bond by preventing the rock from sucking up the moisture. They should only be damp, not puddled. Britt spreads the mortar by hand, pushing it into the gaps around each rock.

This type of mortar usually has a working time of an hour or so, depending on temperature and humidity. It should be set, and the raised garden beds ready for use the following day. Britt talks about grouting them later, which you may or may not choose to do depending on the appearance you prefer. These raised garden beds are one of a number of stone landscaping ideas that require little upkeep. They also look great and will help retain warmth, thus providing improved growing conditions for flowers and vegetables.